Welcome to Anchors Of Truth,
00:00:12.17\00:00:14.21
live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
00:00:14.31\00:00:16.91
Happy Sabbath.
00:00:22.28\00:00:23.62
Thank you for joining us
here at the 3ABN Worship Center.
00:00:23.65\00:00:27.79
And it's good to have all of you
here in the house of the Lord.
00:00:28.12\00:00:30.36
How many are happy to be in
the house of the Lord today?
00:00:30.39\00:00:33.46
Alright, I hope all of you
at home that you're happy too.
00:00:33.80\00:00:36.63
Because it's a great and
exciting time to be alive;
00:00:36.83\00:00:39.53
in the closing
moments of earth's history.
00:00:39.57\00:00:41.17
Don't you agree?
00:00:41.20\00:00:42.54
I mean, we're living right
in the middle of everything
00:00:42.60\00:00:45.14
that's happening
around the world.
00:00:45.17\00:00:46.51
Everything we've read about
from the time we were kids,
00:00:46.54\00:00:49.01
we're here.
00:00:49.04\00:00:50.38
Prophecy is being
fulfilled before our eyes.
00:00:50.41\00:00:53.88
We are blessed today, I
won't give all the accolades
00:00:53.92\00:00:57.42
that I could
give, for two reasons.
00:00:57.45\00:00:59.35
One is, if I gave all
the accolades I could about
00:00:59.39\00:01:02.82
Wintley Phipps, the
program would be mostly over.
00:01:02.86\00:01:06.46
I could do all of that.
00:01:06.49\00:01:07.83
Secondly, it's not
good for people, right?
00:01:07.86\00:01:09.90
Because we want to uplift God.
00:01:09.93\00:01:11.27
So we're going to give
all the glory and praise,
00:01:11.30\00:01:13.34
everything that God is
doing through Pastor Phipps
00:01:13.44\00:01:15.87
around the world, his
ministry, music and preaching,
00:01:15.90\00:01:19.67
we give the honor and glory, as
he does, to our heavenly Father.
00:01:19.71\00:01:23.45
What I'd like to do is I want to
spend just a couple of moments,
00:01:23.85\00:01:26.75
since this is Sabbath,
I'd like him to come out.
00:01:26.98\00:01:29.28
And we won't do
the normal intro,
00:01:29.48\00:01:31.65
but I want him to come out.
00:01:31.69\00:01:33.02
He's pastor of the Palm
Bay church there in Florida.
00:01:33.05\00:01:35.62
But Brother
Phipps, if you'll come out.
00:01:35.82\00:01:37.26
Oh, he's on this
side of me, alright.
00:01:37.29\00:01:39.29
I heard that voice.
00:01:39.59\00:01:40.93
When you hear a voice
like, "Hello," it's scary.
00:01:40.96\00:01:43.37
I always look up
when I hear that.
00:01:43.40\00:01:45.93
It's like, "Yes,
Lord? What is it?"
00:01:45.97\00:01:48.80
So please don't do
me that way anymore.
00:01:48.84\00:01:51.17
I thought God was...
00:01:51.21\00:01:52.54
No, but what a great voice.
00:01:52.84\00:01:54.71
Doesn't he have a great voice?
00:01:54.74\00:01:56.08
- Praise God. Praise
God. - Sometimes he'll call me
00:01:56.11\00:01:57.71
and I'll see it says
Wintley on it, and I'll say,
00:01:57.75\00:02:00.88
"Hello brother.
00:02:01.65\00:02:03.08
How you doing?"
00:02:04.55\00:02:05.89
He laughs and then
does it about twice as low,
00:02:06.86\00:02:09.52
and it's full, you know.
00:02:09.56\00:02:10.89
It's so great to have
you and your wife Linda here.
00:02:11.33\00:02:13.60
And what a
blessing to have you here.
00:02:13.63\00:02:16.10
I wanted to talk about,
just a little bit today,
00:02:16.13\00:02:19.43
your book, Your Best Destiny.
00:02:19.63\00:02:21.80
I had the
privilege of reading it.
00:02:22.20\00:02:23.54
And you let me
write a little forward,
00:02:23.57\00:02:25.07
and what have you, on it.
00:02:25.11\00:02:26.44
But when I saw what
you were talking about,
00:02:26.47\00:02:29.14
and I thought of the
quote from Ellen White that says
00:02:30.05\00:02:33.31
Satan's last greatest attack
against God is on His character,
00:02:33.35\00:02:36.92
I said, how timely this is.
00:02:37.25\00:02:39.85
And what I want to make
sure is, because you're here
00:02:39.89\00:02:41.89
and we don't have
much time to talk about it,
00:02:41.92\00:02:43.49
I want people to know
how they can get this.
00:02:43.53\00:02:46.46
Now please, for those
of you who say he's selling
00:02:46.49\00:02:48.66
on Sabbath, no he isn't.
00:02:48.70\00:02:50.03
I'm going to tell you,
if we give you an address,
00:02:50.07\00:02:51.43
what have you, you
call any time other than
00:02:51.47\00:02:53.40
Sabbath hours, alright?
00:02:53.44\00:02:55.10
So that will solve that.
00:02:55.30\00:02:56.91
But also, Wintley
has some information
00:02:56.94\00:02:59.77
that needs to get to the world.
00:02:59.81\00:03:01.28
And so, I want you to
tell us just a little bit,
00:03:01.94\00:03:04.78
you have your book and
then you have your study guide.
00:03:04.98\00:03:07.65
Explain the study guide.
00:03:07.68\00:03:09.02
That's right, the book is
called, Your Best Destiny;
00:03:09.38\00:03:12.25
Becoming the Person
You Were Created to Be.
00:03:12.29\00:03:15.72
We were created
in the image of God
00:03:15.96\00:03:18.59
to reflect, resemble,
reveal the character of God.
00:03:18.63\00:03:22.66
You were talking about
the devil's last attack
00:03:22.86\00:03:26.43
is on the
character of God's people.
00:03:26.47\00:03:29.34
Well his first attack
was on the character of God.
00:03:29.50\00:03:34.94
And it has been his
most effective weapon
00:03:36.08\00:03:39.31
throughout
history, is this distortion
00:03:39.35\00:03:42.82
and misrepresentation
of the character of God.
00:03:43.02\00:03:46.42
And, you know, the servant of
God is the most prolific writer
00:03:46.76\00:03:50.83
in the history of Christianity
on the character of God.
00:03:50.86\00:03:54.96
And for about 20
years, I have been studying
00:03:55.00\00:03:58.40
the character of God.
00:03:58.50\00:03:59.93
God blessed us
with these two books.
00:03:59.97\00:04:03.27
The first is, Perfecting
Me; Becoming the Person
00:04:03.30\00:04:07.41
You Were Created to Be.
00:04:07.44\00:04:08.78
As the Scripture say,
"The perfecting of the saints."
00:04:08.81\00:04:11.51
And the other book, Your Best
Destiny; Becoming the Person
00:04:11.78\00:04:16.55
You Were Created to Be.
00:04:16.58\00:04:17.92
And we made it available
on, goodsamaritanmall.com.
00:04:17.95\00:04:23.46
So that's easy to remember.
00:04:23.49\00:04:25.03
The reason for that is
that whenever you share and
00:04:27.26\00:04:31.63
avail yourself of the
products there, that we tithe,
00:04:31.67\00:04:35.50
we give back to
God's work, you know.
00:04:35.54\00:04:37.81
Praise God.
00:04:37.84\00:04:39.17
So we help others like the
good Samaritan helps others.
00:04:39.21\00:04:42.51
And so, it is the
greatest want of the world.
00:04:42.54\00:04:48.35
The servant of God says
the greatest want of the world
00:04:48.78\00:04:51.95
is the want of character.
00:04:52.25\00:04:54.76
In other words, men
and women who cannot be
00:04:54.79\00:04:57.59
bought or sold, they are
people of strong character.
00:04:57.63\00:05:01.33
And if you look
around the world today,
00:05:01.36\00:05:03.47
you can see the
greatest need in our world
00:05:03.57\00:05:06.74
is the need of character.
00:05:06.77\00:05:08.17
But finally, what we'll
be talking about this morning
00:05:08.27\00:05:10.87
and this afternoon is,
people of God who are preparing
00:05:10.91\00:05:16.24
to enter the kingdom
of God, they must have
00:05:16.61\00:05:20.22
the pre-eminence
of Christ-likeness
00:05:20.52\00:05:24.35
as their primary focus and goal.
00:05:24.75\00:05:27.76
Because if you get
everything else right,
00:05:27.79\00:05:30.69
but you don't get the
development of character
00:05:31.63\00:05:34.76
that reveals,
reflects, and resembles Christ,
00:05:34.86\00:05:37.50
you've missed the boat.
00:05:37.53\00:05:38.90
Amen, amen.
00:05:38.93\00:05:40.27
Thank you so
much, Pastor Wintley.
00:05:40.50\00:05:42.20
We look forward to your music.
00:05:42.24\00:05:43.57
Will you be singing
for us this morning?
00:05:43.61\00:05:45.44
- That's correct. - Alright.
00:05:45.47\00:05:46.81
And then we're
going to be blessed.
00:05:46.84\00:05:48.24
And we want you all right now...
00:05:48.48\00:05:49.81
In fact, let's just
have a little word of prayer.
00:05:49.84\00:05:51.18
We're going to pray
for a special anointing
00:05:51.21\00:05:53.88
of the Holy
Spirit upon our brother.
00:05:53.92\00:05:56.05
Dear Father, we
thank You again for Your
00:05:56.08\00:05:57.69
many wonderful blessings.
00:05:57.72\00:05:59.19
Lord, we thank You for
this beautiful Sabbath day
00:05:59.22\00:06:01.49
that we can worship You.
00:06:01.52\00:06:02.86
We realize that You
have given Brother Wintley
00:06:03.02\00:06:06.03
something that's so
important for the closing
00:06:06.39\00:06:08.60
moments of earth's history;
00:06:08.63\00:06:09.96
something that
maybe we as Christians,
00:06:10.00\00:06:11.83
and Seventh-day
Adventist Christians,
00:06:11.87\00:06:13.84
have overlooked;
00:06:13.87\00:06:15.20
is to realize how can
we perfectly resemble You.
00:06:15.50\00:06:20.61
And we can't do it
of our own strength.
00:06:20.64\00:06:22.14
We can only do it as we submit
and commit our lives to You,
00:06:22.18\00:06:25.31
and then, Father, go and
tell what You have done for us.
00:06:25.58\00:06:28.52
Thank You that our greatest
asset is our own personal
00:06:28.55\00:06:31.05
testimony of what
You have done for us.
00:06:31.09\00:06:33.56
But thank You that
You give us victory
00:06:33.59\00:06:35.62
as we reveal and
reflect Your character
00:06:35.82\00:06:37.93
to a lost and dying world.
00:06:37.96\00:06:39.73
We pray now for a special
anointing of the Holy Spirit
00:06:39.76\00:06:42.70
the remainder of this program.
00:06:42.96\00:06:44.43
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
00:06:44.47\00:06:46.57
Amen, amen. Praise God.
00:06:46.60\00:06:49.07
How can I say thanks
00:07:19.90\00:07:24.01
for all the things
You have done for me?
00:07:26.47\00:07:32.95
Things so undeserved,
00:07:34.28\00:07:39.79
yet You gave to
prove Your love for me.
00:07:40.72\00:07:47.23
The voices of a million angels
00:07:48.16\00:07:53.30
could not express my gratitude.
00:07:53.57\00:08:00.44
All that I am
and ever hope to be,
00:08:00.48\00:08:08.48
I owe it all to Thee.
00:08:09.38\00:08:15.56
To God be the glory,
00:08:15.76\00:08:23.00
to God be the glory,
00:08:23.60\00:08:31.14
to God be the glory
00:08:31.57\00:08:37.05
for the things He hath done.
00:08:37.08\00:08:44.62
With His blood, He has saved me.
00:08:44.65\00:08:51.53
With His power,
He has raised me.
00:08:51.56\00:08:58.80
To God be the glory
00:08:58.83\00:09:05.74
for the things He hath done.
00:09:05.77\00:09:11.98
Just let me live my life,
00:09:12.01\00:09:19.25
and let it be
pleasing, Lord, to Thee.
00:09:19.95\00:09:26.86
And should I gain any praise,
00:09:26.90\00:09:33.03
let it go to Calvary.
00:09:33.07\00:09:41.24
Calvary.
00:09:41.28\00:09:45.78
Oh with His blood,
00:09:45.81\00:09:52.15
He has saved me.
00:09:52.25\00:09:55.92
With His power,
He has raised me.
00:09:55.96\00:10:03.26
To God be the glory
00:10:03.30\00:10:10.24
for the things He hath done.
00:10:10.27\00:10:17.11
To God be the glory
00:10:17.15\00:10:24.52
for the things, for the things,
00:10:24.55\00:10:31.06
for all the things He hath done.
00:10:31.09\00:10:41.07
Praise the Lord. Let us pray.
00:10:54.92\00:10:56.75
Father, as we open Your
holy Word, I ask that You would
00:10:58.35\00:11:01.36
cleanse me of
all unrighteousness.
00:11:01.39\00:11:04.03
Fill my life with Your Holy
Spirit's presence and power.
00:11:04.79\00:11:08.60
Speak to me,
through me, and for me.
00:11:09.56\00:11:13.23
And I promise You
God, I'll always give You
00:11:14.27\00:11:17.14
the honor, the
glory, and all the praise.
00:11:17.17\00:11:22.31
In Jesus' name I
pray, amen and amen.
00:11:22.41\00:11:28.18
Praise the God of heaven.
00:11:28.22\00:11:29.98
Do you love the Lord?
00:11:30.59\00:11:31.92
I love the Lord
with all my heart.
00:11:33.02\00:11:35.36
Amen. I must tell you
that I have a secret dream.
00:11:36.36\00:11:41.23
I guess once I tell you,
it won't be secret anymore.
00:11:42.30\00:11:46.07
My secret dream is that
one day I will be in heaven
00:11:46.90\00:11:50.27
working on my
mansion with my holy hammer,
00:11:52.04\00:11:55.31
and I'll hear a
knock on the door.
00:11:57.78\00:11:59.75
And when I open it,
Jesus will be standing there.
00:12:00.58\00:12:03.72
Clothed in light, a
crown of glory on His head.
00:12:04.72\00:12:08.02
And He'll say to me,
"My Son, I'm about to go
00:12:08.62\00:12:12.53
to some parts of My universe
where they've never seen
00:12:12.56\00:12:16.30
a child from earth
who has been redeemed.
00:12:16.33\00:12:19.57
And I want you
to come go with me.
00:12:20.64\00:12:22.87
Oh, and by the way, I want you
to sing just before I speak."
00:12:23.64\00:12:27.94
That's my dream.
00:12:30.88\00:12:32.31
I want you to come with
me on the morning of the
00:12:35.28\00:12:38.75
third day of the encampment
of the children of Israel.
00:12:38.79\00:12:43.49
They turned their
eyes towards the mountain,
00:12:45.06\00:12:47.73
that holy mountain,
00:12:47.76\00:12:49.36
and they watched as God
took an ordinary mountain,
00:12:50.63\00:12:54.74
draped it in sound and
fury, dressed it in drama
00:12:56.10\00:13:02.08
and darkness.
00:13:02.11\00:13:03.85
And like a
conductor before a symphony,
00:13:04.21\00:13:06.88
God gave to Israel a
glimpse of His majesty
00:13:07.85\00:13:12.42
and divine artistry.
00:13:12.79\00:13:14.69
Starting from the top of
the mountain, a dense thick
00:13:15.59\00:13:18.49
dark cloud slowly moved downward
00:13:18.53\00:13:21.13
until the holy mountain
was wrapped in a curtain
00:13:21.83\00:13:24.67
of impenetrable darkness.
00:13:24.70\00:13:26.87
High above the mountain,
the people heard the sound
00:13:27.60\00:13:30.57
of a celestial trumpet
summoning them to draw closer.
00:13:31.01\00:13:35.58
Moses pointed his
face to the mountain.
00:13:35.61\00:13:38.95
And as he led his people
to the base of that mountain,
00:13:39.55\00:13:42.28
he himself
prepared his heart for the
00:13:42.32\00:13:46.02
highest privilege of man.
00:13:46.05\00:13:48.22
And that is to commune
heart to heart with the Creator
00:13:48.62\00:13:52.86
of the universe.
00:13:52.89\00:13:54.33
As the people drew closer,
from the darkness shot out
00:13:54.66\00:13:58.33
white flashes of lightning
and sharp peals of thunder.
00:13:58.37\00:14:02.64
As God's presence descended,
the mountain shook and quaked,
00:14:03.17\00:14:07.78
and all the people fell upon
their faces before the Lord.
00:14:07.81\00:14:12.08
And then suddenly
there was silence.
00:14:12.65\00:14:15.48
The thunder ceased, the
lightening stopped flashing,
00:14:16.52\00:14:19.85
The call of the
trumpet was heard,
00:14:20.59\00:14:22.52
and there was
nothing left but silence.
00:14:22.56\00:14:26.53
Then amidst the stillness,
God spoke out of the darkness
00:14:26.90\00:14:32.43
and mystery, out of the
shadows of the dim unknown.
00:14:32.47\00:14:36.60
On that mountain
surrounded by angels,
00:14:36.64\00:14:39.74
shrouded in a veil
of light and glory,
00:14:39.77\00:14:42.58
God spoke.
00:14:43.01\00:14:44.41
He said, "I am the Lord thy God,
00:14:45.71\00:14:48.28
who has brought you
out of the land of Egypt,
00:14:49.42\00:14:52.62
out of the house of bondage.
00:14:53.15\00:14:56.16
Thou shalt have no
other gods before me."
00:14:56.73\00:15:01.63
And then God spoke the
last of the four commandments
00:15:45.21\00:15:49.71
pertaining to Himself.
00:15:49.74\00:15:52.18
Exodus 20:8
00:15:53.31\00:15:55.98
This fourth commandment
has been a source of anx
00:16:37.53\00:16:42.30
and controversy
amongst Christians.
00:16:42.86\00:16:45.90
Brothers and
sisters, we cannot allow
00:16:46.57\00:16:50.27
our familiar rehearsal of
this truth obscure the fact
00:16:50.51\00:16:55.54
that the fourth commandment
to remember the Sabbath day
00:16:55.58\00:16:59.21
to keep it holy is
and was a defining moment
00:16:59.25\00:17:05.09
in Scripture.
00:17:05.65\00:17:06.99
It places before us
a clear command of God;
00:17:08.16\00:17:12.36
a requirement God
introduced to us at creation.
00:17:12.99\00:17:17.80
Genesis 2, "Thus the heavens
and the earth were finished,
00:17:18.33\00:17:22.47
and all the host of them."
00:17:22.67\00:17:24.67
And did you know
that before God gave Moses
00:17:46.13\00:17:48.86
the Ten Commandments,
God clearly referred
00:17:48.90\00:17:52.57
to the Sabbath as
one of His commandments
00:17:52.60\00:17:57.14
before He gave
the Ten Commandments.
00:17:57.34\00:18:00.51
Remember when God fed the
children with manna from heaven?
00:18:00.88\00:18:04.01
He told them on
Friday to gather enough manna
00:18:04.25\00:18:07.08
on Friday for the Sabbath.
00:18:07.28\00:18:09.18
But look at what it
says in Exodus 16:25.
00:18:09.45\00:18:12.32
This was before God gave
Moses the Ten Commandments.
00:19:00.37\00:19:05.04
He said the Sabbath
is a command of the Lord.
00:19:05.44\00:19:09.28
One of the commandments.
00:19:12.31\00:19:14.15
So there were commandments
before the ten were given.
00:19:14.32\00:19:17.42
Praise the Lord.
00:19:18.05\00:19:19.39
This was before God gave
Moses the Ten Commandments.
00:19:19.85\00:19:22.46
The Sabbath is one of
the brightest stars in the
00:19:22.49\00:19:25.86
galaxy of doctrines and creeds.
00:19:25.89\00:19:28.46
It is an axiomatic principle,
00:19:28.60\00:19:31.07
it is a
fundamental tenet of our faith,
00:19:31.10\00:19:34.00
that there on Sinai God spoke
for all time and for all seasons
00:19:34.04\00:19:38.91
saying, "Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
00:19:38.94\00:19:44.71
I am the Lord your God
who created the heavens
00:19:45.08\00:19:48.22
and the earth."
00:19:48.25\00:19:49.58
Here, God is reminding us of
what Isaiah says in Isaiah 44:8.
00:20:01.06\00:20:05.40
"Fear ye not..." I
love this scripture.
00:20:06.20\00:20:08.87
"Fear ye not,
neither be afraid."
00:20:08.90\00:20:11.47
God says, "Have I not
told thee from that time,
00:20:11.67\00:20:14.41
and have declared it?"
00:20:14.61\00:20:15.94
In other words, God says
to Isaiah, "Have I not been
00:20:16.04\00:20:19.05
telling you this from ages past?
00:20:19.08\00:20:21.78
Ye are even my witnesses."
00:20:21.82\00:20:23.82
God says, "Have I
not declared this truth
00:20:23.85\00:20:28.49
from ages past?"
00:20:28.52\00:20:29.86
And listen to what God says.
00:20:29.89\00:20:31.23
God says, "Is there
another God beside me?
00:20:31.26\00:20:36.10
No. There is no
other Creator God."
00:20:37.27\00:20:42.44
And then God
says, "I know not any."
00:20:42.90\00:20:45.74
God says, "If there is
another God, I don't know him.
00:20:47.81\00:20:51.48
If there is another
God, I've never met him.
00:20:52.25\00:20:55.25
God says, "I've paid
courtesy calls to every planet."
00:20:55.38\00:20:58.52
Hallelujah.
00:20:58.69\00:21:00.02
"I've visited the farthest star,
I've walked the halls of Orion,
00:21:00.19\00:21:03.89
I've vacationed in the Pleiades.
00:21:04.09\00:21:06.19
And if there is another God,"
God says, "I've never met him.
00:21:06.23\00:21:09.90
He's never shown his face."
00:21:09.93\00:21:12.53
There on that mountain
God spoke, not only to Israel,
00:21:13.97\00:21:17.51
God spoke to all
humanity when He said,
00:21:17.71\00:21:21.48
"Remember the Sabbath
day, to keep it holy."
00:21:21.51\00:21:25.08
That day on Sinai, God did
not lay before His children
00:21:25.41\00:21:28.88
any doubtful or uncertain word.
00:21:29.08\00:21:32.65
God did not place before us any
tentative ambiguous injunction.
00:21:33.02\00:21:38.76
God said, "I am
the Lord thy God."
00:21:38.93\00:21:41.33
That is so clear.
00:21:41.36\00:21:42.86
And He says, "Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
00:21:43.00\00:21:46.03
It is so clear.
00:21:46.47\00:21:47.80
He says, "I was the one
who stood in the black void
00:21:47.84\00:21:51.11
of inner space and
said, 'Let there be light.'
00:21:51.14\00:21:54.18
I was the one who called
forth the moon and ordained that
00:21:54.44\00:21:58.05
the stars would
light the evening sky.
00:21:58.08\00:22:00.45
I was the one who knelt
down by the side of a river,
00:22:00.48\00:22:03.72
scooped up a lump of clay,
and breathed into his nostril
00:22:03.75\00:22:07.86
the breath of life.
00:22:08.36\00:22:09.69
I was the one who formed
you from the dust of the ground.
00:22:09.72\00:22:13.16
And the Sabbath
is not a suggestion.
00:22:13.19\00:22:16.56
It is a command."
00:22:16.60\00:22:18.33
And by the time of
Jesus, the leaders and Pharisees
00:22:20.70\00:22:24.71
had made the Sabbath more
of a burden than a blessing.
00:22:24.74\00:22:29.34
Nothing made the priests
more angry than the way Jesus
00:22:30.25\00:22:34.78
kept the Sabbath.
00:22:34.98\00:22:36.45
Christ came to not
only uphold the Sabbath,
00:22:38.95\00:22:41.79
but at the same
time free the Sabbath
00:22:41.96\00:22:45.16
from all the unnecessary
meaningless burdensome
00:22:45.19\00:22:49.23
requirements that men
had put on the Sabbath.
00:22:49.26\00:22:52.20
They took a
blessing and made it a curse.
00:22:52.57\00:22:56.00
You couldn't light a
candle on the Sabbath,
00:22:56.81\00:23:00.41
because that
was considered work.
00:23:00.81\00:23:02.51
You couldn't carry a pocketbook.
00:23:03.14\00:23:05.35
Most of you all would
have been breaking the Sabbath.
00:23:05.75\00:23:08.25
You couldn't carry a purse.
00:23:09.05\00:23:11.19
You couldn't carry a wallet.
00:23:11.49\00:23:13.42
You could put a bandage
on a wound on the Sabbath,
00:23:13.76\00:23:18.69
but you couldn't put
medication on the wound.
00:23:19.13\00:23:22.36
For that was considered work.
00:23:22.90\00:23:24.73
And it was for this very
reason that Jesus deliberately
00:23:25.10\00:23:29.27
chose the Sabbath to
perform many of His miracles
00:23:29.30\00:23:34.21
and acts of healing.
00:23:34.24\00:23:35.81
Of the thirty-three or
so miracles performed in the
00:23:36.24\00:23:38.75
New Testament, Christ
performed seven of them
00:23:38.78\00:23:42.22
on the Sabbath.
00:23:42.25\00:23:43.59
And these Sabbath miracles
stirred up bitter opposition
00:23:44.25\00:23:47.86
to Jesus on the part of the
religious leaders of His day.
00:23:47.89\00:23:51.13
One day in the
synagogue, Jesus healed a man
00:23:51.59\00:23:54.20
with a withered hand.
00:23:54.23\00:23:55.56
And that made the leaders angry.
00:23:55.60\00:23:57.20
The man at the pool
of Bethesda was healed
00:23:57.60\00:24:00.17
on the Sabbath.
00:24:00.30\00:24:01.64
But Jesus angered
them even further, because
00:24:01.87\00:24:05.27
after He healed
the man, He told him,
00:24:05.31\00:24:07.74
"Take up your bed and carry it."
00:24:07.78\00:24:11.55
On the Sabbath.
00:24:27.40\00:24:28.73
Friends, they had so taken
the Sabbath and twisted it,
00:24:30.37\00:24:33.13
they wouldn't feed
hungry people on the Sabbath,
00:24:33.34\00:24:36.10
for that was considered work.
00:24:36.14\00:24:38.71
Jesus came to remind the
world that the Sabbath was made
00:24:39.57\00:24:42.81
for worship, but it
was also made for mercy.
00:24:42.84\00:24:47.28
God does not require His
children to suffer any pain
00:24:49.42\00:24:53.62
that might be
relieved on the Sabbath.
00:24:53.66\00:24:56.42
Or any other
day, for that matter.
00:24:56.93\00:24:58.76
Not long ago in New York
City, and perhaps you saw it
00:24:59.83\00:25:04.17
on television, a mother
who was a devout Sabbath keeper
00:25:04.20\00:25:08.90
believed that you
could not turn off a hotplate
00:25:08.94\00:25:12.54
because it was the Sabbath.
00:25:13.27\00:25:15.11
She left it on,
trying to keep the Sabbath.
00:25:16.21\00:25:20.22
And the house caught on fire,
killing seven of her children.
00:25:20.48\00:25:24.92
Many families in
that religious community,
00:25:26.32\00:25:29.06
get this, are now using
timers on their hotplates
00:25:29.66\00:25:33.70
because their church
authorities have determined
00:25:33.73\00:25:37.00
that timers can be used
without breaking the Sabbath.
00:25:37.03\00:25:41.20
Jesus said, "It is lawful
to do good on the Sabbath."
00:25:43.20\00:25:48.11
And we should never rest
from doing good on the Sabbath.
00:25:48.64\00:25:52.55
Aren't you glad that when
you pray prayers on the Sabbath,
00:25:52.91\00:25:56.52
God doesn't say, "You
will have to wait until the
00:25:56.92\00:25:59.82
Sabbath is over before
I can answer that prayer."
00:25:59.85\00:26:02.66
Aren't you glad that when
we approach the throne of God
00:26:04.63\00:26:07.40
on the Sabbath, we
never see a sign that says,
00:26:07.43\00:26:10.33
"Closed for the Sabbath.
00:26:10.37\00:26:12.23
Come back tomorrow."
00:26:12.63\00:26:14.20
Jesus said, "It is lawful
to do good on the Sabbath."
00:26:14.24\00:26:18.61
In other words, it is not
work to do good on the Sabbath.
00:26:18.64\00:26:24.18
The seventh day memorializes and
celebrates God's creative power.
00:26:24.88\00:26:29.98
It is universal.
00:26:30.29\00:26:31.95
Everyone everywhere
can keep it where they are.
00:26:32.52\00:26:36.59
Even in the places where...
00:26:37.49\00:26:39.33
I visited some places
where the sun never sets.
00:26:39.36\00:26:43.13
You can set aside a special
time to keep the Sabbath.
00:26:43.16\00:26:47.04
And God understands.
00:26:47.07\00:26:49.50
The Sabbath is a sign of God's
lordship and His creatorship.
00:26:49.54\00:26:53.44
It is the sign of
God's divine authority.
00:26:53.68\00:26:56.85
It is a sign of God's right
to rule as the only true God.
00:26:57.08\00:27:02.08
If the seventh day is
the Sabbath of Scripture,
00:27:02.52\00:27:05.05
then why do so many
Christians worship on the
00:27:06.09\00:27:10.13
first day of the week?
00:27:10.16\00:27:12.29
Well, that
story is a long story.
00:27:13.73\00:27:16.53
It involves history...
00:27:17.73\00:27:19.63
...supterfuge...
00:27:20.34\00:27:22.10
...and spiritual espionage.
00:27:22.97\00:27:26.31
But most of all, it involves
disobedience to God's commands,
00:27:26.98\00:27:32.15
and rebellion against the will
of God and the character of God.
00:27:32.18\00:27:36.35
You see, behind the
issue of the right day
00:27:36.55\00:27:39.69
is a bigger issue.
00:27:40.32\00:27:41.69
And that bigger
issue is Satan's challenge
00:27:42.36\00:27:45.76
to God's authority.
00:27:45.79\00:27:47.53
His rebellion
against the character of God.
00:27:48.06\00:27:51.53
That is the issue.
00:27:51.83\00:27:53.54
Every honest Christian church,
every honest denomination,
00:27:53.57\00:27:57.64
will tell you that the seventh
day Sabbath is the Sabbath
00:27:57.67\00:28:01.91
of all of the Bible.
00:28:01.94\00:28:03.51
Not just the Old
Testament, but the New.
00:28:03.55\00:28:06.45
From Genesis to Revelation.
00:28:06.92\00:28:08.75
Neither Christ nor the apostles,
nor any prophet of the Bible,
00:28:08.78\00:28:13.66
changed the Sabbath.
00:28:13.69\00:28:15.22
And every honest Christian
denomination will tell you that.
00:28:15.36\00:28:19.46
They will tell you men
changed it by themselves.
00:28:19.66\00:28:24.17
And when you presume
to change God's laws,
00:28:24.47\00:28:27.54
that is an affront to
God's authority, and rebellion
00:28:27.57\00:28:31.91
against the
clear command of God.
00:28:31.94\00:28:34.34
You know, if I
painted my house yellow,
00:28:35.41\00:28:38.21
and I went away on a vacation,
00:28:39.11\00:28:41.15
and you live next
door to me as my neighbor,
00:28:41.75\00:28:44.35
and you decide while
I'm gone, in my honor
00:28:44.99\00:28:49.12
you will repaint
my house purple...
00:28:50.16\00:28:53.03
If you paint my
house a different color,
00:28:55.26\00:28:58.93
you have challenged my
authority over my house.
00:28:59.43\00:29:05.64
If you change God's
commands, you are challenging
00:29:06.61\00:29:10.38
His authority over His universe.
00:29:10.61\00:29:14.22
And those who try to
paint my house, quote unquote,
00:29:14.62\00:29:18.35
"in my honor," would more
honor me by leaving my house
00:29:18.39\00:29:25.43
the color I painted it.
00:29:26.13\00:29:27.66
Somebody say amen.
00:29:29.30\00:29:30.90
The Sabbath was made for us
to celebrate God's rulership
00:29:32.47\00:29:36.97
and authority.
00:29:37.17\00:29:38.71
Every Sabbath
ought to be a celebration
00:29:39.44\00:29:42.18
where we celebrate
His handiwork, His power,
00:29:42.21\00:29:45.45
His authority.
00:29:45.48\00:29:46.82
So many wonderful things
we can do on the Sabbath.
00:29:46.92\00:29:50.19
We can comfort
the broken-hearted.
00:29:50.52\00:29:52.62
We can bring
cheer to the cheerless.
00:29:52.85\00:29:54.69
We can do justly, we can
show mercy, on the Sabbath.
00:29:54.72\00:29:58.69
Adam kept the Sabbath.
00:29:59.26\00:30:01.36
Moses kept the Sabbath.
00:30:01.96\00:30:03.90
Abraham, Isaiah,
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul
00:30:04.00\00:30:08.20
kept the Sabbath.
00:30:08.40\00:30:09.74
Jesus kept the Sabbath.
00:30:10.11\00:30:13.21
And if it was
good enough for Jesus,
00:30:13.61\00:30:16.21
it surely is good enough for me.
00:30:16.75\00:30:19.38
One of the reasons I
keep the Sabbath is because
00:30:20.02\00:30:22.98
when I get to glory, I
want to be able to say to Jesus,
00:30:23.08\00:30:27.22
"Jesus, You kept the Sabbath,
and I was only trying to
00:30:27.49\00:30:31.89
do what You did.
00:30:31.93\00:30:33.43
And I knew I could
never go wrong trying to do
00:30:34.03\00:30:39.23
what You did.
00:30:39.27\00:30:40.70
Following Your example."
00:30:41.37\00:30:42.70
Friends, my highest
authority for Sabbath keeping
00:30:42.74\00:30:48.48
is the life, example,
and teachings of Jesus.
00:30:48.78\00:30:53.58
But one more important
thing about the Sabbath.
00:30:54.38\00:30:56.82
God said He has
made the Sabbath a sign
00:30:57.39\00:31:01.69
between Himself and His people.
00:31:01.72\00:31:04.99
In Exodus 31:12, "And the
Lord spake unto Moses, saying,"
00:31:05.83\00:31:09.96
verse 13, "Speak thou also unto
the children of Israel, saying,
00:31:10.00\00:31:15.90
'Verily my
Sabbaths ye shall keep:
00:31:15.94\00:31:20.71
for it is a sign between me and
you throughout your generations;
00:31:21.18\00:31:30.15
that ye may know that I am the
Lord that doth sanctify you.'"
00:31:30.19\00:31:37.76
Verse 16 of
Exodus 31, Exodus 31:16,
00:31:38.19\00:31:42.86
"Wherefore the children of
Israel shall keep the Sabbath,
00:31:42.90\00:31:46.30
to observe the
Sabbath..." How long?
00:31:46.50\00:31:49.94
"...throughout
their generations,
00:31:50.14\00:31:52.27
for a perpetual covenant."
00:31:52.31\00:31:54.14
And look at Exodus 31:17.
00:31:54.18\00:31:57.01
"It is a sign between me and
the children of Israel forever:
00:31:57.05\00:32:04.32
For in six days the
Lord made heaven and earth,
00:32:05.85\00:32:07.79
and on the seventh day he
rested, and was refreshed."
00:32:07.82\00:32:10.99
Now what does it mean
that the Sabbath is a sign?
00:32:11.03\00:32:15.83
In the Bible, the
word, "sign," and, "seal,"
00:32:16.50\00:32:20.14
are applied to the same things.
00:32:20.17\00:32:23.07
Whoa.
00:32:24.01\00:32:25.54
So in Exodus 31:17, God
says the Sabbath is a sign
00:32:25.74\00:32:29.48
between God and
His children forever.
00:32:29.51\00:32:31.78
And in Revelation 7:2,
it says a seal is applied
00:32:32.15\00:32:36.58
to those God sees
as His faithful people.
00:32:36.62\00:32:41.56
Amen.
00:32:42.26\00:32:43.59
Revelation 7:3 says...
00:32:43.63\00:32:44.96
The sign, or seal,
represents how heaven signifies
00:32:54.07\00:32:59.71
and identifies those
who belong to the Lord.
00:32:59.74\00:33:04.58
And God has designated
the Sabbath as a sign.
00:33:05.68\00:33:10.69
Now the Sabbath is
a sign of many things.
00:33:11.02\00:33:13.86
The Sabbath is a
visible sign to the community
00:33:14.06\00:33:16.93
that we have chosen
to honor the law of God.
00:33:16.96\00:33:20.16
The Sabbath is a sign that we
have made a covenant with God.
00:33:21.06\00:33:25.43
A covenant that will not
be changed or compromised.
00:33:25.47\00:33:29.44
The Sabbath is a
sign that we acknowledge
00:33:29.54\00:33:32.51
the sovereignty of God
as Creator of the world
00:33:32.54\00:33:36.34
and King of the universe.
00:33:36.38\00:33:38.01
I call Him, the supreme
Monarch of the universe.
00:33:38.05\00:33:42.05
It is a sign of His
power and authority.
00:33:42.08\00:33:44.79
And just like the Sabbath
was a sign that Israel had
00:33:44.89\00:33:47.42
come out of slavery in
Egypt, it is also a sign
00:33:47.46\00:33:51.23
that we too have come
out of slavery to the world
00:33:51.26\00:33:55.16
to enter into God's
perpetual heavenly rest.
00:33:55.76\00:33:59.63
The Sabbath is also a
sign that we as a people
00:33:59.67\00:34:03.04
have a relationship
with God, and that God has a
00:34:03.24\00:34:06.81
relationship with us.
00:34:06.84\00:34:08.94
The Sabbath is also a
sign that we honor all of the
00:34:08.98\00:34:13.25
rest of the Ten Commandments.
00:34:13.28\00:34:15.38
The Sabbath is a sign
of an obedient people.
00:34:17.09\00:34:20.76
Praise the Lord.
00:34:21.06\00:34:22.52
It is a sign of
obedience to God.
00:34:22.72\00:34:25.39
We should never be
ashamed to bear the sign
00:34:25.43\00:34:29.76
of obedience to God.
00:34:29.80\00:34:31.70
The Sabbath is a sign
of loyalty to the true God.
00:34:32.33\00:34:35.74
The God who made the heaven,
and the earth, and the sea,
00:34:35.77\00:34:38.37
and the fountains of waters.
00:34:38.41\00:34:40.28
The Sabbath is also a
sign, not on your body,
00:34:40.31\00:34:44.21
but on your mind.
00:34:44.41\00:34:46.78
The mark, the sign,
the seal is placed where?
00:34:47.25\00:34:51.49
In the forehead of
the servants of God.
00:34:52.05\00:34:55.26
The forehead is used to show
not only belief we belong to God
00:34:55.29\00:34:59.13
and we are His, but the
forehead is used to show
00:34:59.16\00:35:01.96
that in our
thinking, in our affections,
00:35:02.00\00:35:05.70
and in our
attitudes we belong to God.
00:35:05.73\00:35:09.57
But perhaps the most
important sign of all
00:35:11.57\00:35:16.38
is found in Exodus 31:13.
00:35:17.35\00:35:20.15
"Verily my
Sabbaths ye shall keep:
00:35:20.42\00:35:25.45
for it is a sign between me and
you throughout your generations;
00:35:25.95\00:35:32.69
that ye may know that I am the
Lord that doth sanctify you."
00:35:32.79\00:35:38.47
My brothers and
sisters, the Sabbath is a
00:35:38.93\00:35:41.40
sign of many things.
00:35:41.44\00:35:42.97
But most importantly, it
is a sign of sanctification.
00:35:43.07\00:35:50.25
The Sabbath is a
sign of sanctification,
00:35:52.85\00:35:58.05
that, "I, the Lord,
doth sanctify thee."
00:35:58.09\00:36:01.96
And what is sanctification?
00:36:02.29\00:36:04.59
Sanctification is harmony
with the character of God.
00:36:04.63\00:36:10.50
So the Sabbath is suppose
to be a sign that in our lives
00:36:11.07\00:36:16.50
and character, we
resemble, reflect, and reveal
00:36:16.54\00:36:22.78
the character of God.
00:36:22.88\00:36:24.88
One of the most important quotes
to me in the spirit of prophecy
00:36:26.41\00:36:30.42
I have ever read is this one.
00:36:30.45\00:36:32.59
And I want you to see this.
00:36:32.62\00:36:34.02
You see it?
00:36:58.71\00:37:00.05
The Sabbath is a
sign of sanctification.
00:37:00.08\00:37:02.32
And sanctification is what?
00:37:03.39\00:37:05.59
Harmony with God,
oneness with God in character.
00:37:05.95\00:37:12.23
"And it is received..."
If you go back to the quote.
00:37:12.66\00:37:14.66
So friends, the
Sabbath is suppose to be a sign
00:37:35.82\00:37:39.69
that we as a people have
character that is in harmony
00:37:39.72\00:37:43.83
with the character of God.
00:37:43.86\00:37:45.86
It is not a sign that you know
the time that the sun goes down.
00:37:46.43\00:37:50.70
Neither is it a sign
that you know more Bible
00:37:52.23\00:37:56.27
than other people.
00:37:56.30\00:37:57.64
The Sabbath is suppose to
be a sign that we as a people
00:37:58.24\00:38:02.21
have character that
is in harmony with the
00:38:02.24\00:38:05.11
character of God.
00:38:05.15\00:38:06.48
Too many members
have accepted the Sabbath
00:38:06.65\00:38:09.88
without
understanding this message.
00:38:09.98\00:38:12.79
That the Sabbath is suppose
to be a sign of sanctification,
00:38:13.19\00:38:17.39
or that in our character we
resemble, reflect, and reveal
00:38:17.43\00:38:22.03
the character of God.
00:38:22.06\00:38:23.47
Because if you have the Sabbath
and do not have His character,
00:38:23.80\00:38:29.10
the Sabbath is of no
eternal benefit to you.
00:38:29.14\00:38:34.28
The Sabbath is not
just our marketing brand.
00:38:37.01\00:38:41.15
It is not just our
point of differentiation
00:38:42.48\00:38:45.69
in the Christian marketplace.
00:38:45.72\00:38:48.02
Nor is it just our badge
of distinctive competence
00:38:48.59\00:38:52.96
in a world of
theological disputes and
00:38:53.06\00:38:55.76
clerical competition.
00:38:55.80\00:38:57.70
No, the Sabbath is
suppose to symbolize
00:38:58.33\00:39:02.54
our sanctification or harmony
with the character of God.
00:39:02.57\00:39:07.61
The Sabbath seal is suppose
to represent and symbolize
00:39:08.04\00:39:12.51
that our lives are
patterned after the loving
00:39:12.55\00:39:17.52
character of God.
00:39:17.55\00:39:19.25
And if we say we
have the Sabbath seal,
00:39:19.72\00:39:22.52
and we do not have
what the seal symbolizes
00:39:23.36\00:39:27.50
and represents, meaning
that we do not have the loving
00:39:27.93\00:39:31.83
character of God, it
means we have accepted
00:39:31.87\00:39:34.70
the name, and not the character.
00:39:34.74\00:39:38.97
And if we have the
name, and not the character,
00:39:41.94\00:39:45.65
we will still be lost.
00:39:45.95\00:39:47.82
It is not enough to make a
profession of faith in Christ,
00:39:48.82\00:39:51.92
that our names are
registered on the church roll.
00:39:51.95\00:39:55.06
Whatever our profession,
it amounts to nothing
00:39:55.32\00:39:58.33
unless Christ is revealed
in works of righteousness.
00:39:58.36\00:40:03.57
Where I live in my community,
00:40:04.83\00:40:06.23
we have my dry
cleaners that I go to.
00:40:06.27\00:40:09.07
It's called, 60
Minute Dry Cleaners.
00:40:09.10\00:40:11.81
And one day I took a load
of clothes to be dry cleaned.
00:40:12.01\00:40:15.14
And the lady behind
the counter said to me,
00:40:15.18\00:40:16.95
"When do you need them back?"
00:40:17.15\00:40:18.78
I said, "In about an hour."
00:40:18.98\00:40:20.32
She said, "Oh, no, no, no, no.
00:40:20.35\00:40:21.68
That's just the
sign on the door."
00:40:21.72\00:40:23.42
She said, "We can't
have it back until Thursday."
00:40:23.62\00:40:26.65
If we do not have His character,
that name, "Sabbath keeper,"
00:40:28.76\00:40:34.30
is just a sign on a door.
00:40:35.10\00:40:38.93
Listen to this.
00:40:42.87\00:40:44.21
The servant of God says,
"Sins of a grave character
00:40:44.71\00:40:48.18
are among us in our borders."
00:40:49.04\00:40:50.81
Sabbath keepers.
00:40:50.85\00:40:52.38
"Unless there is an awakening
such as we have never seen
00:40:52.88\00:40:56.58
for some time which
will convict and convert
00:40:56.62\00:40:59.92
professed Sabbath keepers,"
00:41:00.06\00:41:02.79
she says those Sabbath keepers,
"will die in their sins."
00:41:03.43\00:41:09.30
Many Sabbath
keepers die in their sins.
00:41:11.87\00:41:15.00
Because no one ever taught
them that the Sabbath is suppose
00:41:16.07\00:41:20.18
to be a sign that we
as a people have character
00:41:20.21\00:41:24.68
that is in harmony
with the character of God.
00:41:24.71\00:41:27.32
So if you have the
name, Seventh-day Adventist,
00:41:27.35\00:41:29.62
on the bumper of your car
and don't have the character,
00:41:29.65\00:41:34.46
the name, Seventh-day Adventist,
is just, for you, an empty logo.
00:41:35.59\00:41:41.10
It's just a sign on the door.
00:41:42.73\00:41:45.90
Not a sign of sanctification.
00:41:46.03\00:41:47.80
Remember, the servant of
the Lord says, "To those who
00:41:47.84\00:41:49.57
keep holy the
Sabbath day, it is the sign
00:41:49.60\00:41:53.98
of sanctification.
00:41:54.78\00:41:56.14
And true
sanctification is harmony
00:41:56.18\00:41:58.65
with the character of God."
00:41:58.85\00:42:00.28
The Sabbath is to be a
sign that the one who created us
00:42:00.32\00:42:03.65
has the power to
re-create us in His likeness.
00:42:03.85\00:42:08.99
Sabbath keepers, by
definition, are suppose to have
00:42:09.56\00:42:13.36
the character of the
One who created the Sabbath.
00:42:13.40\00:42:17.53
And if you just have
the name of Sabbath keeper,
00:42:18.33\00:42:21.10
and don't have
the character of God,
00:42:21.14\00:42:23.71
you are
misrepresenting Adventism.
00:42:24.11\00:42:29.38
You are misrepresenting God.
00:42:34.45\00:42:37.39
"Sabbath keeper," is suppose
to mean that we are a people
00:42:37.49\00:42:41.29
of faith and virtue.
00:42:41.32\00:42:43.43
It's supposed to mean
that we are a people of
00:42:43.76\00:42:45.66
knowledge and self-control.
00:42:45.69\00:42:47.36
We're supposed to be a people
of patience and godliness.
00:42:47.46\00:42:51.90
We're supposed to be a
people who hold the law
00:42:52.00\00:42:54.27
and will of God sacred.
00:42:54.30\00:42:56.17
"Sabbath keeper," is suppose
to mean that we are a people
00:42:56.27\00:42:59.57
of kindness.
00:42:59.61\00:43:01.41
We're a people of love.
00:43:03.58\00:43:06.51
When we resemble, reflect,
and reveal the true character
00:43:07.52\00:43:10.29
of God, did you know
that this opens to us
00:43:10.32\00:43:14.09
opportunities to
witness to the world.
00:43:14.19\00:43:17.49
But we've begun to believe
that we can win people anyway.
00:43:18.13\00:43:21.56
Whether or not we
reflect His character.
00:43:23.10\00:43:26.07
When we don't resemble, reflect,
and reveal the character of God,
00:43:26.94\00:43:29.90
like the scribes and Pharisees,
we believe just as long as
00:43:29.94\00:43:33.71
we keep the Sabbath,
we don't have to fully
00:43:33.74\00:43:36.14
reflect the character
of God in the way we live
00:43:36.18\00:43:38.98
and in the way
we treat each other.
00:43:39.01\00:43:40.52
Remember, friends,
the scribes and Pharisees
00:43:40.92\00:43:44.09
kept the Sabbath more strictly
than you will ever keep it.
00:43:44.12\00:43:48.12
And yet, they crucified
our Savior on the cross.
00:43:48.99\00:43:52.93
Why? Because
they had the Sabbath,
00:43:52.96\00:43:55.86
but did not have His character.
00:43:55.90\00:43:59.03
The only reason
they crucified Jesus.
00:43:59.57\00:44:02.10
They had the Sabbath, but
they did not resemble, reflect,
00:44:02.60\00:44:06.54
and reveal the character of God.
00:44:06.74\00:44:08.51
You know, one of my favorite
stories, I love to share it,
00:44:08.78\00:44:11.51
it is about the farmer
who was being inspected.
00:44:12.11\00:44:16.25
His farm was being inspected
by a state official one day.
00:44:16.28\00:44:20.66
And he told the state
official, "You know, you can go
00:44:21.72\00:44:26.66
all over my farm.
00:44:26.86\00:44:28.43
But the backside of the farm,
00:44:29.53\00:44:31.83
I have a
dangerous bull over there.
00:44:32.50\00:44:35.70
Stay out of that area."
00:44:36.27\00:44:38.14
That state
official said to the farmer,
00:44:38.71\00:44:40.91
"Do you see this badge?
00:44:41.21\00:44:43.75
This badge means I
have the right to inspect
00:44:44.35\00:44:48.32
every inch and
area of your farm."
00:44:48.35\00:44:51.92
The state official went
away to do his inspection.
00:44:52.25\00:44:55.22
Twenty minutes later,
the farmer heard a lot of
00:44:55.52\00:44:58.79
screaming and commotion.
00:44:58.83\00:45:00.60
He ran outside to
find the state official
00:45:00.96\00:45:03.77
being chased by the bull.
00:45:03.97\00:45:06.10
And as he ran, he was
shouting to the farmer,
00:45:06.13\00:45:08.84
"Help me, help me."
00:45:08.87\00:45:11.17
The farmer shouted
back at the state official,
00:45:11.21\00:45:13.84
"Show him your badge."
00:45:13.88\00:45:15.88
We have this belief that
all we have to do as Adventists
00:45:21.78\00:45:27.99
to win people is to
show them our badge.
00:45:28.02\00:45:33.23
Our badge is
important, but it is not enough.
00:45:34.56\00:45:37.37
There is no power in our badge.
00:45:37.40\00:45:40.84
The power is in the character
that reflects, resembles,
00:45:42.27\00:45:46.94
and reveals the
character of God.
00:45:46.98\00:45:49.78
The world will never be
impressed with our badge
00:45:49.81\00:45:52.91
if they don't see
the character of Christ
00:45:52.95\00:45:55.38
that is behind the badge.
00:45:55.58\00:45:57.75
When the world sees that
we have, not just the seal,
00:45:58.02\00:46:02.26
but what the seal represents,
which is sanctification,
00:46:02.76\00:46:08.03
or congruence and harmony
with the character of God,
00:46:08.06\00:46:11.50
only then will
they be impressed.
00:46:11.60\00:46:15.64
When the world sees that
we have, not just the mark and
00:46:17.31\00:46:21.64
the sign, but what
the sign represents,
00:46:21.68\00:46:25.75
and that is characters
that are in harmony with the
00:46:25.78\00:46:28.32
character of God...
00:46:28.35\00:46:29.68
Why do you think we are having
such a hard time evangelizing?
00:46:29.72\00:46:34.72
We are showing them our badge,
00:46:36.29\00:46:38.89
when they're not impressed
until they see the character
00:46:40.73\00:46:45.00
of Christ behind the badge.
00:46:45.77\00:46:49.34
Can I read that again?
00:47:05.75\00:47:07.09
When the world finally hears...
00:47:58.61\00:48:00.61
Ellen White says, when
the world finally hears...
00:48:00.71\00:48:03.71
Oh, look at this; when
the world finally hears,
00:48:03.91\00:48:07.55
not just our profession
of faith, but sees that the
00:48:07.58\00:48:13.29
character of God is reproduced
in the lives and characters
00:48:13.32\00:48:18.49
of the people, the
people who wear the badge,
00:48:18.53\00:48:21.53
people who have the sign
and seal of sanctification,
00:48:21.56\00:48:24.50
only then will
they be impressed.
00:48:24.60\00:48:28.87
They will see in our lives,
in our schools, in our homes,
00:48:30.34\00:48:34.48
in our churches...
00:48:34.74\00:48:36.34
One of the great
blessings that come when people
00:48:36.38\00:48:39.78
reflect the character of
God is healthy relationships.
00:48:39.81\00:48:45.59
Can I say that again?
00:48:47.26\00:48:48.62
One of the great
blessings that come when people
00:48:48.99\00:48:52.79
reflect the character of
God is healthy relationships.
00:48:52.89\00:49:00.47
There is nothing the
world craves more than loving
00:49:00.80\00:49:04.81
healthy relationships.
00:49:04.84\00:49:06.81
And if they see it in
us, they will be moved
00:49:07.14\00:49:11.15
and touched and impressed.
00:49:11.25\00:49:12.95
That's why Ellen White said...
00:49:13.25\00:49:14.58
Healthy relationships are a
by-product of godly character.
00:49:36.94\00:49:43.18
Oh what happens when
people are living out
00:49:43.71\00:49:46.11
the character of God in their
homes and in their churches.
00:49:46.15\00:49:50.62
You know, we must ask ourselves,
are we as a people known
00:49:50.65\00:49:55.86
for unusually
healthy relationships?
00:49:55.96\00:49:59.36
Or are we just as dysfunctional
as the rest of society?
00:50:01.00\00:50:06.74
Is their new
normal our new normal?
00:50:07.90\00:50:10.97
How can we ever
inspire them and impress them,
00:50:12.27\00:50:15.14
to help them believe that the
Sabbath can make a difference
00:50:16.08\00:50:19.88
in their lives when it does
not make a difference in ours.
00:50:19.91\00:50:25.25
Watch this quote.
00:50:26.76\00:50:28.09
Praise the Lord.
00:50:54.88\00:50:56.22
As I close, the
violin maker, Stradivari,
00:50:58.55\00:51:02.92
he had a rule:
00:51:03.63\00:51:04.96
No violin was to leave his shop
00:51:05.96\00:51:08.73
until it was as close to
perfection as humanly possible.
00:51:09.40\00:51:13.80
He once said, "God
needs violins to send His
00:51:14.54\00:51:17.31
music into the world.
00:51:17.34\00:51:19.11
If my violins are defective,
God's music will be spoiled."
00:51:19.47\00:51:24.15
As the music begins to play,
he said, "I believe the lives
00:51:24.38\00:51:29.08
we live are God's
music to the world."
00:51:29.12\00:51:33.72
And in order for the music
to be as beautiful as possible,
00:51:34.59\00:51:39.03
our lives must reflect the
beauty of the character of God.
00:51:39.46\00:51:44.80
Listen to the
message in the song.
00:51:45.53\00:51:48.04
Humming...
00:51:55.44\00:51:58.98
Oh Lord.
00:52:31.65\00:52:33.62
Humming...
00:52:33.92\00:52:36.32
Oh Lord.
00:52:38.39\00:52:39.79
Humming...
00:52:39.99\00:52:43.63
Amazing Grace,
00:53:02.48\00:53:09.02
how sweet the sound,
00:53:09.05\00:53:14.66
that saved a wretch like me.
00:53:14.92\00:53:24.87
I once was lost,
00:53:25.70\00:53:32.67
but now I'm found;
00:53:33.44\00:53:37.65
was blind, but now I see.
00:53:37.68\00:53:47.59
Through many dangers,
00:54:09.11\00:54:16.02
toils, and snares
00:54:16.05\00:54:20.02
I have already come.
00:54:20.06\00:54:29.90
'Twas Grace has brought me
00:54:31.00\00:54:37.94
safe thus far,
00:54:38.14\00:54:43.88
and Grace will lead me home.
00:54:44.38\00:54:54.32
When we've been
there ten thousand years,
00:55:03.20\00:55:13.01
bright shining as the sun;
00:55:13.11\00:55:23.08
we've no less days
to sing God's praise
00:55:23.75\00:55:33.33
than when we first begun.
00:55:33.40\00:55:43.20
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
00:55:43.30\00:55:47.61
Amen.
00:55:47.64\00:55:53.28
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
00:55:53.58\00:55:57.69
Amen.
00:55:57.79\00:56:03.29
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
00:56:03.39\00:56:09.16
Amen.
00:56:09.20\00:56:16.77
Let us pray.
00:56:21.38\00:56:22.71
Oh Father, thank
You that the Sabbath
00:56:23.45\00:56:29.65
is the sign of a people who
resemble, reflect, and reveal
00:56:30.89\00:56:38.89
Your character.
00:56:38.93\00:56:40.70
Help us, Lord, as we strive
to resemble Your character.
00:56:41.60\00:56:49.87
Help us, oh God.
00:56:50.81\00:56:52.64
The character
of God is our goal;
00:56:54.01\00:56:58.61
to be transformed into
the likeness, the moral image
00:56:59.28\00:57:06.39
of the One who created us.
00:57:06.96\00:57:09.69
May this be our eternal destiny.
00:57:10.36\00:57:14.83
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
00:57:15.53\00:57:19.80
Amen.
00:57:20.50\00:57:21.94
Praise God.
00:57:21.97\00:57:23.37
Let the church say amen, amen.
00:57:24.17\00:57:28.84